Black Combe & the Furness  Coast: 9.5miles 2300ft

My walk this week started from Green Road railway station near Millom on the Furness peninsular just as the sun appeared

Standing on the station platform looking east to

 the Dunnerdale fells

After a short ride along the coast I alighted at Silecroft

 village, seen here, as I start to climb Black Combe

That isn’t Black Combe but those are certainly black clouds, with sun behind, heading in my direction

Looking up to Townend Knotts on my path to Black Combe

Is this what is meant by a sun burst?

High tide on the Cumbrian coast from Townend Knotts 

Here come those black clouds again!

Silecoft  village and Haverigg Point

Those clouds again

The clouds did come and after some rain left Black Combe in cloud as I headed up into it. 

One last view to the west coast before crossing the summit of Black Combe…..  

…..and emerging from the cloud above Stoupdale Crags looking east to the Duddon estuary

….. and Walney Island off Barrow in Furness

Zooming in on the Duddon railway viaduct

The view ahead to the estuary as I headed down  

Looking back where I’d come from

White Combe fell on the east side of Black Combe

Autumn colour on Watery Crag

Whirlpippin house across the valley

Finally a panorama view of where I’d descended as I followed the path back to Green Road station

Coniston:   A Circuit of Dow Crag via the South Rake & Coniston Old Man summit, returning down the Coppermines Valley. 11miles 3200ft.

Setting off along the lakeside after leaving the car in the layby next to the Catholic church

It was lovely still morning with the mist rising above the lake

I then followed the bridleway from Haws Bank climbing to the Walna Scar road

Wetherlam to the north as the path crossed the Rigg

Dow Crag soon comes into view. The route to the South Rake starts by crossing the screes from left to right to the tiny white looking rectangle, at the base of the crags. (The mountain rescue stretcher box)  It then follows the base of the crags passing Great Gully in the centre and continuing to the next large gully to the left. This is the start of the South Rake.

First I passed the outlet from Goat's Water.....  

.....before taking the path across the screes to the mountain rescue stretcher box. A young couple were standing on the large rock in the water at the far end of the tarn.....

Zooming in on them

Passing the entrance to Easy Gully before ascending the South Rake.....

....and emerging here from it close to the summit of Dow Crag

On the summit is a pinnacle holding up a very large boulder which forms a frame with a view!

Looking through the rock frame to Coniston Water....

.....and down to Goat's Water

I then crossed Goat's Hause to Coniston Old Man summit where several hang gliders were enjoying the upcurrents....

.....and again

Lunch over I descended by the path to Coppermines Valley with views to Low Water below and Levers Water and Wetherlam, of last weeks walk, behind

The path was still busy with people climbing the zig zags below

Passing Low Water

Down in the valley there was a group of children trying out the sport of  'Canyoning' ie fastening yourselves to a rope and held by and instructor at the top letting yourself float and bounce down the waterfalls..... 

.....ending up in a pile at the bottom it seems

Finally I arrived in Coniston village's main street after

another wonderful and exhilarating day's walking

Tilberthwaite: A circuit of Wetherlam & Black Sails via Steel Edge returning  by the Coppermines valley. 10.5miles 2850ft

Early morning mist and frost in Tilberthwaite

Starting the climb beside Tilberthwaite Gill after leaving the parking area by Tewdale beck 

The sun was just beginning to appear over Black fell behind me

A little higher and it would be sunshine all the way 

Half way up Steel Edge with lake Windermere still covered in a thick layer of mist, Tilberthwaite Gill immediately below.

Nearing the top of Steel Edge with the fells of the Fairfield Horseshoe on the Horizon

Emerging from the steep climb onto the path leading to Wetherlam summit

Wetherlam summit cairn 2502ft with Prison Band rising to Swirl How summit, but not for today's walk

After a short walk over the summit I arrived at Black Sails summit 2445ft with a view to Coniston Old Man and Levers Water below

Descending to Swirl Hause to take the path down to Levers Water. Prison Band rising up the other side

Lunch time with Levers Water all to myself....

....and again

Looking back up to Swirl Hause

My path continued above the Coppermines valley....

.....where one of the giant water wheels has been restored

Evidence of coppermining is everywhere in the valley

Arriving at a view point overlooking Coniston village and the lake

The path then lead back into the Tilberthwaite valley where Coniston mountain rescue team were in action. The casualty had become unwell while walking in the Yewdale fells. The incident can be seen at. https://conistonmrt.org.uk/yewdale-fells/

Finally arriving back at the car by Tilberthwaite Gill